Does the Heart Rule the Head?

Rowan Hooper clarifies making decisions based on reason and emotion in the article entitled “Clear Pictures of How We Think.” Evidence is bringing scientists closer to figuring out “whether the heart rules the head” (Hooper). Through the use of a functional magnetic-resonance imaging, scientists are able to determine which parts of the brain are most active in everyday situations. Hooper uses the example of there being certain parts that are more active when someone falls in love. Originally, the only way to learn about the parts of the brain was to watch those that had suffered brain damage. Joshua Greene and Jonathan Cohen, two professors at Princeton University, started their own study that “look into the factors that influence moral judgment” (Hooper). In their study, they took volunteers and told them to imagine what they would do in a horribly tricky situation while they scanned their brains. Not only do the emotions you feel show up on the scan, but also the areas controlling the logical aspects that you’re forced to consider. In conclusion, Hooper answers his opening question by saying that the heart does rule the head sometimes, however, “the head doesn’t give in without a fight” (Hooper).

To me, this was a very interesting piece of work. The idea that logic and emotions can be at a constant battle to help you try and make the right decision is quite intense. I even think that it may be a little confusing. Some people always want there to be a right or wrong way to do things. There are people who refuse to follow their emotions because that’s not logical and vice versa. However, Hooper tells you that there’s no real reason to choose. You have to use both things to make your decision. If you don’t, you’re probably making a mistake.

Hooper , Rowan. "Clear Pictures of How We Think." Wired 20 Nov. 2004: n. pag. Web. 7 Apr 2010. .

The Science Behind It All

Like many colleges, Brown University has its own personal research projects. Science Daily, an online research new source, recently commented on the newest findings on where the decision making process happens in an article titled, “Evidence Appears to Show How and Where the Brain’s Frontal Lobe Works”. The writer explains that “the frontal lobe of the human brain controls decision-making along a continuum from abstract to concrete, from front to back”(Brown University). He clarifies with an example like deciding to brush your teeth which is an abstract decision. Concrete decisions are the steps used to brush your teeth. Through the use of stroke patients the scientists were able to figure out that the front part of the frontal lobe controls the abstract decisions while the back area does concrete. The best part to all this being that the new evidence may be used to treat stroke patients and learning how we develop thoughts.

I sort of wished that I would have done this article first. It was a good look into the actual scientific aspects of how we make decisions. There were some areas that sort of confused me because I wasn’t sure where the author was going at times. Now I have an inside look on how things actually work, and how people perceive that their decisions are made.

Brown University. "Evidence Appears To Show How And Where Brain's Frontal Lobe Works." ScienceDaily 3 March 2009. 2 April 2010 .

You Are What You Decide

In the article, “Do We Make Decisions, or Do Our Decisions Make Us,” James Stein uses the topic of a man finding a wife with the same qualities as his mother as an example of how we approach the decision making process. He compares his dating experience to that of a friend who has many of the same personality traits as him. Stein says that he spent most of his time dating women who were nothing like his mother, but felt that they weren’t right and married a woman just like her. However, his friend, Dick, married a woman just like his mother and it ended up in divorce. Their views on the decision that they made and the decision making process in general are completely different. James believes that “we make our decisions, receive feedback from whether they work or not, and then learn which decisions to make” (Stein). While on the other hand, Dick thinks that we should study how we’ve been brought up to make the right decisions in a certain way and overcome that step to make actual good decisions.

I enjoyed the way the author made his point through his own personal experience. It showed me that while you may have two people who are very much alike, more than likely there is still something that makes them unique. This article was a good look at how people interpret situations differently. Stein takes the trial and error path, while his friend chooses to be more psychological about his choices. Another helpful thought was his suggestion of taking both paths and seeing if you come to the same decision. If you do, then you’re probably making the right choice.

Stein, James. "You Are What You Decide: Do We Make Decisions, or Do Our Decisions Make Us?." Psychology Today 26 Feb. 2010: n. pag. Web. 25 Mar 2010. .

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-are-what-you-decide/201002/do-we-make-decisions-or-do-our-decisions-make-us